Food Labels: What Do They Really Tell Us?

Food Labels: What Do They Really Tell Us?
Food Labels: What Do They Really Tell Us?

Food Labels: What Do They Really Tell Us?

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We’ve all seen the health claims on the front of that box of cereal, things like “helps lower cholesterol, or “excellent source of vitamins.” But now cereal giant Kellogg’s is facing a class action suit over its claim that Cocoa Krispies helps boost children’s immunity to illness. The cereal maker has said it will phase out the messages from its packaging over the next several months.

Another industry-backed label “Smart Choices” has halted its program after it came under scrutiny by the FDA after items like Fruit Loops were identified as “Smart Choices.” As part of our Food Mondays series, we thought we’d explore what all our food labels really mean.

To help us figure out what we can and can’t learn from the labels on our food is Marion Nestle. She’s a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University and she writes the blog Food Politics.